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Have we selected for higher mesophyll conductance in domesticating soybean?
  • +2
  • Elena Pelech,
  • Samantha Stutz,
  • Yu Wang,
  • Edward B. Lochocki,
  • Stephen Long
Elena Pelech
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Carl R Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
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Samantha Stutz
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Carl R Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
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Yu Wang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Carl R Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
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Edward B. Lochocki
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Carl R Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
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Stephen Long
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Carl R Woese Institute for Genomic Biology

Corresponding Author:slong@illinois.edu

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Abstract

Soybean ( Glycine max [L.] Merr) is among the most important agricultural seed crops and source of vegetable protein. Further yield improvements per unit land area are needed to meet future demand and avoid destruction of more natural lands. Mesophyll conductance ( gm) in C 3 crops quantifies the ease with which CO 2 can transfer from the sub-stomatal cavity to Rubisco within the mesophyll. Increasing gm is in theory most attractive as it would increase photosynthesis, yield potential and water-use efficiency. Most measurements of gm have been made during steady-state light saturated photosynthesis. However, in field crop canopies, light fluctuations are frequent and the speed with which gm can increase following shade to sun transitions is likely important to crop carbon gain. Is there variability in gm that could be used in breeding? If so, indirect selection could be expected to have already increased gm and be apparent when comparing wild ancestors of soybean ( Glycine soja) to a domesticated high-yielding cultivar. The elite LD11 was compared with four ancestor accessions collected from the assumed area of domestication by concurrent measurements of gas exchange and carbon isotope discrimination (∆ 13C). This allowed estimation of gm both through induction following transfer to high light and at steady-state. The results have shown 1) gm was a significant limitation to soybean photosynthesis both at steady-state and through light induction, especially when the major biochemical limitation was in vivo Rubisco activity and, 2) compared to the ancestral accessions, the elite LD11 showed a large and significant increase in gm at both steady-state and through light induction, which also corresponded to a substantial increase in leaf level CO2 assimilation and water use efficiency.
Submitted to Plant, Cell & Environment
Submission Checks Completed
Assigned to Editor
Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Jul 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Sep 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
21 Sep 20241st Revision Received
26 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
26 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
28 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Sep 2024Editorial Decision: Accept